Improvement in book-supports



I. WITWER. Book-Support No. I9 7,58I.-

Patented Nov. 27,- I877.

P NOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WISHINGYON. D-C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC WITWER, on NEW HOLLAND, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-SUPPORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,581, dated November27, 1877; application filed May 28, 1877.

'To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo WITWER, of New Holland, in the county ofLancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvementsin an Adjustable Hand-Rest and Writing-Desk, of which the following is aspecification:

The object of this invention is to supply an adjustable hand-rest, tofacilitate writing desk withits parts folded. Fig. 2 shows the underside of the same with the parts in place. Fig. 3 is afront elevation ofthe handrest, to show the arrangement of devices for elevating it. Fig.4 shows the hand-rest folded down and the lids. of a book supported onthe adjustable side tables to bring the surface of both sides of theleaves on a level. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the hand-rest andtable.

The device is shown complete for laying upon a desk or table; but legsor supports at the four corners may be affixed to form a desk or' table,if desirable.

In Fig.1, A A represent the supportingtablets resting upon the frame 0,E, and P. (Shown in Fig. 2.) The fixed intermediate piece 13 is toreceive the ordinary springback of books of record, while the sidetables can be separately or jointly adjusted, to bring the upper surfaceof the leaves on each side to a level position by means of links I,attached to the sides of the tables above, and to the frame andcenter-piece below. These links are held by pivot-pins, like in anordinary parallel ruler, and act in unison to raise either tableindependently from the other.

To hold'the same in adjustment, the forward,

pair of links I are each notched, to receive a pawl, K, on a shaft, G,arranged in suitable bearings, and externally provided with a handle, H,to separately actuate each pair of pawls under each table.

When the book is adjusted a projecting metallic strip, 0, forming a partof the handrest D, is brought down and supported upon the lower marginof the book, said rest having been previously raised for the purpose.

Thus the hand-rest is in the same horizontal plane with the leaves'to bewritten upon, and

the object of my invention thereby attained. This hand-rest D andmetallic ledge O are connected with a metallic cross-strip, L, and

an intermediate section or strip, M, by means ing intermediate plate maybe used; but I prefer the arrangement shown and described.

As before stated, the object in view is to raise the hand-rest andtables independently, and to cause them to retain their horizontalposition. Hence they must be separatelyad justable, and so held whenadjusted.

I am aware that book-supports connected with the ends of an oscillatinglever, which is held on a central pivot, as shown in ,Pat-

ents No. 95,369 and No. 140,107, are used without a hand-rest, as also ahand-rest clamped to the cover of a book, as shown in Patent No.165,885, all of which I disclaim; but I am not aware of a combination ofan adjustable hand-rest with two independentlymoved book-supports whichare separately operated and held in their adjustment, substantially asherein set forth.

lVhat I claim as my invention is The combination of an adjustablehandrest, D, with its ledge O and slotted bar M, theindependently-adjustable side tablets A A, pawl K, and shaft G, andcentral piece B,

arranged and operated substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ISAAC WITWER.

Witnesses SAMUEL DILLMAN', G. H. TowNsLEY.

